Interview
Iran’s national softball player in an interview with Shirzanan
Only one match per year
Shirzanan – Fereshteh Movahed: A very popular sport all around the world is baseball, a sport that with some changes had open its doors to women athletes and got a new name: Softball. When Softball came to Iran many were wondering all over the world that how Iranian girls are going to do in something new and unfamiliar.
Like many other women’s sports in Iran, softball has less of everything: although at the beginning not many people knew about it, now it is a known sport and active. This is an interview with Samira Bagherpour, a member of Iran women’s national softball team was born in 1984 and got her bachelors in physical and athletic education:
How come you chose softball?
It was in 2005 that a friend introduced softball to me: I always liked Baseball so I naturally got attracted. This is a game of concentration and you need to think all the time. Actually in softball we are playing against time; we need to make the best decision in the shortest time possible.
What is the difference with baseball?
(laughing) It is softer than baseball, the field is smaller and the ball is bigger: the rules are also different.
How many players play in each team?
9 players: some play in infield and some play on a grass outfield. There are three players in outfield.
What is your position?
I am a pitcher.
When did softball come to Iran? When was the first national team?
About 15 years ago baseball came to Iran and from 2001 softball was added. The softball national team was formed last year: It was mostly because an American softball team came to Iran and we had someone to play with.
Can you explain a bit?
Sara Hiller who is a volunteer member of Ball Sports organization, suggested this: The United State team came to Iran and we had some friendly matches between that team the national league champion which was Tehran’s team.
Who was the head coach?
Amir Homayoun Heidary was the head coach.
What were your other plans last year? And what are your plans this year?
That was it: no other plans for last year. And this year we don’t yet have any plans. We had a camp and workshop with Sara Hiller and Elisa Baxter and that was the only thing we did for the year.
Then how does the national team practice?
each player plays and practices in their own club team. And we didn’t have a national league yet and we are hoping to have that soon.
Which team are you playing for now? And how often they practice?
I am playing for Karaj team; we practice 3 days a week and our head coach is the national team head coach, which is a huge advantage.
Do you think women are enthusiastic about softball?
It got better; from 2005 when some people have changed in the federation we got attracted towards softball. Back then there were only 4 teams in Iran but now we have 11 teams. Unfortunately we have stopped in that level: there are not enough facilities and there is no planning. We need to have more competitions. One match per year is really not enough.
Did you reflect these to the federation officials?
Yes; nothing has changed. We have potential but there is no attention and all these potentials will go to waste. I only wish for Softball to get to a level that we would have a real and productive national team.
